The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 199

workman toils on in unwavering faith, there is a spectacle which we can well believe that the angels of God look upon with delight. Certainly it is the object of our admir- ing regard. On the other hand, pride is an offensive thing in the eyes of man, as we know it is in the sight of God (Prov. viii. 13). Whether a man shows himself elated about his personal appearance, or his riches, or bis learning, or his strength (of any kind), we begin by being amused and end by being annoyed and repelled; we turn away as from an ugly picture or from an offensive odour. IY. PATIENCE CONDUCTS INTO, PRIDE EXCLUDES FROM, THE KINGDOM OF Goo. 1. Patient inquiry will bring a man into tho sunshine of full discipleship to Jesus Christ, but pride will keep him away, and leave him to be lighted by the poor sparks of his own wisdom. 2. Patient steadfastness in the faith will conduct to the gates of the celestial city. 3. Patient continuance in well-doing will end in the commendation of Christ and in his bountiful reward.-C. Ver. 10.-Foolish comparison and complaint. This querulous comparison, preferring former days to present ones, is unwise, inasmuch as it is- I. BASED UPON IGNORANCE. We know but little of the actual conditions of things in past times. Chroniclers usually tell little more than what was upon the surface. We probably exaggerate and overlook to a very large extent. The good that is gone from us was probably attended with evils' of which we have no idea; while the evils that remain we magnify because we experience them in our own person and suffer from them. II. MARKED BY FORGETFULNESS. Often, though not always so. Often the change for the worse is not in a man's surroundings, but in himself. Leaving bis youth and his prime behiod him, be has left his vigour, his buoyancy, his power of mastery and of enjoyment. The "times" are well enough, but he himself is failing, and he sees everything through eyes that are dim with years. IIL l:NDICATIVE OF A SPIRIT OF DISCONTENT. It is the querulous spirit that thinks ill of his companions and his circumstances. He would come to the same conclusion if these were much better than they are. A sense of our own unworthiness and a con- sciousness of God's patience with us and goodness toward us, filling our sonls with hnmility and gratitude, would dissipate these clouds and put another song into our mouth. IV. WANTING IN MANLY RESOLUTENESS. If we are possessed of a right spirit, instead of sitting down and lamenting the inferiority of present things we shall gird ourselves to do what has to be done, to improve that which is capable of reform, to abolish that which should disappear, to plant that which should be thriving. V, LACEING IN TRUSTFULNESS AND IIOPEFULNESS. What if things are not all they should be with us; what if we ourselves are going down the bill and shall soon ba at the bottom ;-is there not a God above us? and is there not a future before us ? Let us look up and let us look on. Above us is a Power that can regenerate and transform; ~efore us is a period, an age, nay, an eternity, wherein all lost joys e.n_d honours will be "swallowed up of life."--C. V ers. 13, 14.-The irremediable. Before we apply the main principle of the text, we may gather two lessons by the way. I. THE WISDOM OF APP!lOPRIATING-Of appropriating to ourselves and enjoying what God gives us without hesitation. In the day of our prosperity let us be joyful. We need not be draping our path wiih gloomy thoughts; we need not send the skeleton ro1rnd at the feast; we should, indeed, partake moderately of everything, and in every- thing give thanks, showing gratitude to the Divine Giver; and we should also have the open heart which does not fail to show liberality to those in need, If our success be hallowed by these three virtues, it will be well with us. II. THE lllGHTNEBB OF RECTIFYING-of making straight all the crooked things W:hich can be straightened. We are not to give up great moral problems as ~nsoluble u~t1l wo are absolutely convinced that they are beyond our reach. Poverty, ignorance, rntem- perance, irreligion,-these are very "crooked" things; but God did n_ot make _them what they are. Man has done that. His sin is the great and sad perverting force in the world, bending all things out of their course and turning them in wrong directions. Ar,d though they may seem to be too rigid and fixed to be amenable to our treatment, OH, Vll, 1-29.] ECCLESIASTES ; OR, THE PREACHER. 187